Continuous bulking and heat setting of yarn

ABSTRACT

Yarn is continuously bulked and heat set by conveying it into a pressurized zone containing hot liquid, continuously relaxing the yarn under substantially zero tension and continuously conveying the relaxed yarn out of the hot pressurized liquid zone. Air pressure zones are provided, before and after the liquid zone, and air locks are provided through which the yarn can be continuously introduced into and withdrawn from the treating apparatus without significant loss of pressure.

United States Patent 1191 Carruthers Nov. 4, 1975 1 CONTINUOUS BULKINGAND HEAT SETTING OF YARN [75] Inventor: George Alan Carruthers, Caton,

England [73] Assignee: Turbo Machine Company, Lansdale,

22 Filed: Nov. 28, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 419,536

[52] US. Cl. 68/5 E; 68/DIG. 1; 68/22 R; 68/27; 68/175; 68/177; 68/181R; 68/207 [51] Int. Cl.. ..D06B 3/04; D06B 21/00; D06B 23/18 [58] Fieldof Search 68/5 E, 22 R, 27, 175, 68/177, 178, 179, 181 R, 184, 207, DIG.1,

DIG. 9, 5 D, 6, 20

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,399,230 12/1921 Touchstoneet a1. 68/27 X 2,529,991 11/1950 Belcher 68/178 X 2,712,977 7/1955Keggin 68/181 R X 2,753,706 7/1956 Franklin 68/177 X 3,058,327 10/1962Hablutzel et a1. 68/5 E 3,230,745 l/l966 Bittle et al 68/5 E 3,330,1347/1967 Carpenter.... 68/178 X 3,364,705 I/l968 Thornber 68/184 X3,546,902 12/1970 Sando et a1. 68/5 E Primary Examiner-Harvey C. HornsbyAssistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

[57] ABSTRACT Yarn is continuously bulked and heat set by conveying itinto a pressurized zone containing hot liquid, continuously relaxing theyarn under substantially zero tension and continuously conveying therelaxed yarn out of the hot pressurized liquid zone.

Air pressure zones are provided, before and after the liquid zone, andair locks are provided through which the yarn can be continuouslyintroduced into and withdrawn from the treating apparatus withoutsignificant loss of pressure.

19 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures DYE .CHAMBER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER HEATERU.S. atent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,916,651

DYE CHAMBER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER 3 f 0 2 t e e h S US. Patant Nov. 4,1975 Sheet 3 of 3 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 CONTINUOUS BULKING AND HEATSETTING OF YARN BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to the treatment of continuously running elongated material suchas yarn, and particularly concerns an apparatus and method forcontinuously heat relaxing yarns and the like.

Although this invention relates to the treatment of wide varieties ofyarn, it is particularly applicable to the bulking and setting ofrelatively large denier yarn such as that intended for use in carpetsand the like.

The feed yarn that is used in this invention may be a continuousfilament yarn in which case the yarn is meltspun, drawn and texturizedeither by crimping, false twisting or the like, and the resulting yarnsare usually plied together and used as the infeed yarns for processingaccording tothis invention. Alternatively, the yarn may be a spun yarnin which case the yarn is spun from short length fibres such as silveror the like, and the spun yarns are preferably plied in order to preparea plied feed yarn for processing according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, yarns which have alreadybeen subjected to a texturizing operation of one kind or another havebeen heat relaxed or bulked by forming sections of the yarns into hanksand by hanging these hanks in an autoclave or steam chamber underconditions of substantially zero tension. The heat treatment under theconditions of temperature and pressure that exist within the autoclavehave been found to relax the yarn, causing the crimpiness or texturizedcharacteristics to develop, producing a substantial increase in bulk.This increase in bulk is highly desirable for many uses, particularlyincluding the use of the yarn as piles or tufts in carpet manufacture.This autoclaving process also sets the yarn, i.e. stabilizes it so thatit remains in the bulked form with little tendency, in use in a carpet,to untwist or to lose its crimp.

In any event, in order to develop the crimp or texturizedcharacteristics of the yarn,it is necessary to heat relax the yarn andthis is the step with which this invention is concerned.

Heretofore, heat relaxation of the yarn has also been obtained on abatch basis by utilizing hot water or saturated steam. Hot air has alsobeen used, even in a continuous manner, but it has produced a product ofdoubtful quality.

The US. Pat. No. 3,408,716 to Tradewell discloses the idea of heatrelaxing a yarn in a moving fluid (hot air), and overfeeding at the feedend in a manner to correlate the feed rate with the wind-up rate so thatthe yarn will be substantially tensionless while it passes through theheat relaxing treatment area.

The US. Pat. No. 2,634,596 to Pendleton et al. shows the idea of sensingthe degree of yarn build-up, and automatically connecting such a sensingdevice to a device for controlling the speed of the yarn input.

One of the problems with which the prior art is confronted is theproblem of treating the yarn continuously in a hot pressurized liquid,without losing pressure or temperature as a result of the step ofcontinuously conducting the yarn from ordinary atmospheric conditionsinto and from thepressurized treatment area. Another problem has beenthe tendency of the yarn to tangle and snarl when it is completelyrelaxed while moving at a high rate of speed; this problem isparticularly in evidence when attempts are made to relax the yarn in hotair.

Another problem facing the art has been the rough treatment with whichit has heretofore been considered necessary to treat a running end ofyarn, when the yarn is moving at the high rate of speed that isnecessary for the economic justification of the heat relaxing aspects ofthe treatment process.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of this inventionto provide for the heat relaxation and setting of yarn in a continuousmanner by exposingthe yarn to an environment characterized by pressuresand temperatures which are considerably above normal ambient conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the continuous heatrelaxing and setting of yarn which is running at avery high speedwithout wrapping, snarling or tangling the yarn. Still another object isto provide for setting yarn with the development of substantial amountsof bulkiness in the yarn, coupled with continuous operation at highrates of yarn speed.

Still another object is to provide for high speed continuous relaxationof yarn in a manner to produce yarn having a high degree of bulkinessand having excellent uniformity and quality.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, including the ease withwhich multiple units may be adapted to a mass production operation, andthe simplicity and economy of operation of the process, and its readyadaptability to the use of additional procedures such as dyeing orapplying lubricants or spin finish to the yarn, will further becomeapparent hereinafter and in the drawings.

Drawings FIG. 1 represents a view in side elevation of one form ofapparatus for carrying out the process according to this invention, withcertain of the parts being shown schematically for the purpose ofclarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 represents a center sectional view of a portion of the infeedapparatus appearing in FIG. 1, taken as indicated by the lines andarrows IIII which appear in FIG. I; 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrowsIIIIII which appear in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken centrally through an exit portion ofthe apparatus appearing in FIG. 1, taken as indicated by the lines andarrows IVIV which appear in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows VVwhich appear in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in plan, looking down upon a pair of infeedrollers comprising a part of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, takenas indicated by the lines and arrows VIVI which appear in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 6, showing a pair of deliveryrollers looking as indicated by the lines and arrows VIIVII which appearin the left central portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a length of yarn which hasbeen subjected to heat relaxation and which indicates a typical crimpdevelopment configuration that can be achieved in a stuffer crimpedcarpet yarn at a location such as that indicated by the arrow VIIIappearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 represents a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the same yarnprior to heat relaxation, such for example as illustrated at the inletto the heat relaxing portion of the apparatus as indicated by the arrowsIXIX, appearing in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view in side elevation of a machine forprocessing a plurality of separate ends of yarn using a plurality ofindividual yarn-relaxing units according to this invention in a commonmachine, and wherein all of the units are connected to a common sourceof heat relaxing medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although specific'terms have beenused in the abstract of the disclosure and will be used for the purposeof clarity in the specific description which follows, it will beappreciated that this description is intended to relate to theparticular forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, and isnot intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

In accordance with this invention a continuously running yarn isconducted into a chamber containing a hot pressurized liquid such aspressurized hot water, for example, and is conducted through this liquidat a high rate of speed. It then moves into a reservoir containing asubstantial quantity of this hot pressurized liquid, and is fed into thereservoir in such a way that the yarn within the reservoir is subjectedto substantially zero tension and is acted upon by the heat and pressureof the hot pressurized liquid in a manner to heat relax and to bulk theyarn while the yarn in maintained at substantially zero tension. Afterthe yarn is permitted to dwell or remain in the hot pressurized liquidfor a predetermined period of time, it is withdrawn under a minimum oftension, preferably as close to zero as possible, and is continuouslyconveyed from the reservoir and delivered for collection under naturalambient conditions. If the yarn, as delivered, still contains some ofthe hot pressurized liquid, it is conducted through a dryer or the likeand the dried yarn is wound onto packages and otherwise prepared forcollection, storage or delivery.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the number designates a tube having adiameter considerably larger than the diameter of the incoming yarn Y,which tube contains a multiplicity of spaced apart orifice plates 21,each having a central orifice of a diameter which is slightly largerthan the diameter of the yarn Y. The tube 20 leads to a pressurized airchamber 22 comprising a pressurized inlet for the yarn Y. A pair ofconical feed rolls 23 are provided in the chamber 22, each mounted upona shaft 24 and driven in rotation by a motor 25 in the directionindicated by the arrow a appearing at the right center of FIG. 1. Alsomounted within the chamber 22 is a guide eye 26 carried on a rod 27 andactuated back and forth along the axis of the rod 27 by a solenoid 30.As will be apparent, the shifting of the yarn Y under the influence ofthe guide eye 26, axially with respect to the conical rolls 23, changesthe effective circumference of the conical rolls that are nipping theyarn Y, and thereby varies the speed with which the yarn is fed into theapparatus by the conical feed rolls 23. The pressurized air chamber 22is connected to and is in pressure communication with a pressurizedfluid inlet chamber 31 which contains a liquid such as hot water at alevel which is maintained by a float valve 32 actuated by a solenoid tocontrol a valve, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the right of chamber 31, toselectively admit the hot liquid from a pipe 35 which is connected to aheater 36 having a temperature controller 37, the flow of the liquidbeing actuated by a pump 40.

At the exit end of the chamber 31 is a long tube 41 of small diameterwhich has a generally U-shaped configuration and curves upwardly intothe bottom of a pressurized heat relaxing chamber 42. As shown, thechamber 42 has an upwardly diverging substantially conical shape, andabove it has an upper generally cylindrical portion 44. The chamber 42is surrounded by and enclosed within a-pressure chamber 45. Thecylindrical portion 44 of heat relaxing chamber 42'is provided with anopening 46 controlled by an adjustable valve 47 for controlling the rateof flow of fluid from the chamber 42 outwardly into the collectingchamber The number 50 designates a float valve at a predeterminedcontrollable level in the chamber 45, connected electrically to asolenoid 51 which operates a valve 52 controlling the flow of fluidthrough line 53 to the feed end of the pump 40, similar to the solenoidand control valve associated with the float valve 32 heretoforedescribed, or selectively a collecting sump 54. Sump 54 is pressuretight andiis connected to the pressure source at P, by line 59. Theflowof fluid into the sump 54 is by gravity and regulated by a valve 55, andthe sump is connected by a line 56 to the feed end of the pump 40. Sump54 has a heater 58 to control the temperature of the liquid.

It will be appreciated, accordingly, that fluid is forced by the pump 40through the heater 36 and the line 35 into the chamber 31, and that thisfluid flows under the influence of the air pressure in the chamber 22,at a high rate of speed through the narrow elongated tube 41 andupwardly into the chamber 42. This fluid then flows out through theopening 46 into the outer collecting chamber 45 and down through theline 53 to the sump 54. The level of the fluid in the chamber 45 is, asheretofore mentioned, controlled by the float valve 50. Dye may bemetered into the fluid, if desired, from the dye chamber 57 through themeter 60 and valve 61.

The number 62 designates a feeler which actuates an electric switch 63which is connected electrically to op- Y erate the solenoid 30heretofore mentioned, in a manner to change the speed of yarn infeedautomatically in response to changes in the level of the yarn Ycontained within the relaxing chamber 42, particularly the height whichthe relaxed yarn has reached in the upper cylindrical portion 44 of thechamber 42, as shown in FIG. 1.

The number 64 designates a pressurized air chamber which is connected tothe top of the cylindrical portion 44 and which is maintained under apressure designated in the drawings as P bythe air pump, the lines andvalves for accomplishing this being schematically illustrated at theupper central portion of FIG. 1. As will be apparent, the valves arearranged to provide a controllable air pressure P within the chamber 64and sump 54. Also in the chamber 64 is a pair of cylindrical nip rolls65 which are driven by a motor (not shown) in the direction illustratedby the arrows (b) which appear in FIG. 1. These nip rolls 65 are drivenat a speed which is carefully correlated with respect to the speed ofthe winder or other takeup and collecting means for the yarn product(not shown), in order to deliver the heat-relaxed yarn at the lowestfeasible tension. The number 66 designates a tube which may be similarto the tube having orifice plates 67 which may be similar to the orificeplates 21, all forming an air lock for permitting the passage of yarnfrom the pressurized air chamber 64 to the ambient air, with a minimumof air loss from the chamber 64 and yet permitting the rapid andcontinuous exiting movement of the yarn -Y.

In operation, the yarn Y is conductedfrom any convenient source which islocated in the ambient air, through the air lock formed by the tube 20and its multiple orifice plates 21 into the air pressure chamber 22which is maintained at a pressure designated as P in the upper centralportion of FIG. 1. Passing through the nip between the rolls 23, along apath that is controlled by the guide eye 26, the yarn moves at acarefully controlled high rate of speed through the tank 31 whichcontains hot pressurized liquid having a pressure approximately equal tothe air pressure P,. Since the pressure P is controlled to assure thatit must be greater than the pressure P the resulting pressuredifferential forces fluid to flow downwardly from chamber 31 and rapidlythrough the small-diameter tube 41, along with the yarn, into thechamber 42. Because of the widening of the diameter in the conicalportion 43, the yarn is gradually relaxed in the turbulently flowingfluid, assuming the undulating configuration shown schematically inFIG. 1. Drifting relatively slowly toward the top of the heat relaxingchamber 42, the yarn is ultimately picked up by the rolls 65 in thepressurized air chamber 64, passes continuously out through the air lockformed by tube 66 and orifice plates 67, and is delivered to anyconvenient location in the ambient air for collection on a winder orother takeup device. The yarn is damp at this stage and may be collectedin a can with a perforated bottom through which warm air can be passedfor drying.

Where reference is made to an air lock herein it should be understoodthat it is not necessarily intended to lock out the flow of aircompletely in the apparatus according to this invention. Since the airstarts off at a pressure P, p.s.i. above atmospheric pressure, andfinally emerges from the air lock tube into the atmosphere, then thetotal pressure drop through all the orifices must equal P It followsthat as the number of orifices is increased the pressure drop througheach is reduced. However, the amount of air passing through any orificedepends on the pressure drop through it. The lower the pressure drop thesmaller the air rate. Thus, in theory, with an infinite number oforifices no air would be used, and with a larger number less air will beused than with a small number.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, it will be observed thatalthough there is some space between the yarn Y and the opening inorifice plate through which it passes, the limited area of this openingseverely limits the rate of air flow that the opening permits, and theturbulence of the air in the tube sections between the orifice plates,creates a pressure drop and further limits the flow ofthe air. Since, inaccordance with this invention, the tubes 20, 66 are each preferablyprovided with great numbers of orifice plates 21, 67, preferably as manyas 20 or more, the summation of the pressure drops through the orificesthemselves, coupled with the friction drops due to the turbulent flow inthe intervening spaces, greatly reduce the rate of flow of the air outthrough the air lock and make it entirely practicable to run the.yarn athigh rates of speed continuously into and out of the pressurized airchambers 22, 64 heretofore referred to, without excessively costlylosses of pressurized air.

It will be noted particularly that the incoming yarn as represented inFIG. 2 is running countercurrent to the escape of air from its chamber,and this countercurrent motion further inhibits the escape of air.Although the yarn itself has not been relaxed at the time it reaches thetube 20, and each yarn has a rather small diameter as appears in'FIG. 3,the yarn has indeed been relaxed and has a much greater bulk as itleaves the apparatus through the air lock shown in FIG. 4. Thus,although the yarn as it moves in FIG. 4 has a direction that iscocurrent with the escape of air itself, its greater bulk further closesthe orifices in the orifice plates 67 in FIG. 4 and thus impedes theescape of air. The larger effective diameter of the yarn is shownschematically in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings are intended to show further detailsrelating to the operation of the conical nip rolls 23 in FIG. 6, and themanner in which they control the infeed rate of the yarn, while therolls 65 of FIG. 7 may be cylindrical as shown.

FIG. 8 shows schematically a segment of yarn after it has been heatrelaxed and its crimpiness has been developed. The yarn shown in FIG. 9has not been so relaxed and is considerably more compact.

Turning now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a multiplicity of units of thetype shown in FIG. 1 are all connected into a common system. It will beapparent from FIG. 10 that, in each unit, the number 22 designates thepressurized air chamber for the incoming yarn Y, the letter L,designates the fluid level in the pressurized fluid chamber for theincoming yarn, which is connected by the small diameter connecting tube,to the pressure chamber of the heat relaxing chamber 45, the number 64designates the pressure air chamber for the outgoing yarn Y, and thenumbers 20 and 66 designate the tubes for the respective air locks forthe incoming and outgoing yarns.

In the apparatus according to FIG. 10, a common air pump 70 is used, andis connected through pressure controls P and P respectively, into thechambers 64 and 22. Similarly, a common reservoir 71 is connected to thepump suction of the pump 40. The pump delivery is connected to header 72which is connected to the pressurized fluid chambers below the level L,.All ofthe pressure chambers 45, which contain the hot fluid as it hascome from the heat relaxing chamber, are connected into a common returnheader 73. The same numbers are used in FIG. 10 as were used in FIG. 1to designate the sump 54, the dye chamber 57, its meter 60, thecirculating pump 40, and other associated equipment.

The apparatus appearing in FIG. 10 is particularly advantageouscommercially because of the ease and uniformity of control of thepressures and temperatures and the dye levels, if applicable, of thefluid that is caused to flow continuously through each one of the yarnrelaxing units. The apparatus according to FIG. 10 has the advantage ofcertainty that two similar yarns, fed into two units of a set, willresult in the production of substantially identical products having thesame degrce of heat relaxation and bulkiness and having the same depthand penetration of dye or color. This is a significant advantage,particularly when the yarns are intended to be tufted or woven intocarpets, because even slight variations of degree of relaxation or ofdye shade or penetration, tend to cause streakiness in the carpets,rendering them defective.

Where reference has been made in the foregoing description to thepresence of air in the chambers 22, 64, it should be appreciated thatany other compatable fluid may be substituted provided it is notmiscible with the liquid contained in the chambers 31, 42 and provided,of course, that it does not damage the yarn or any associated parts ofthe apparatus. However, air is preferred because it is plentiful andinexpensive.

The liquid that is used in the chambers 31 and 42 is preferably hotwater, because it has no adverse affect upon the yarn and assistsgreatly in the heat relaxing and bulking operation. Indeed, it issurprising that a very significant increase of bulkiness is achievedaccording to this invention when the yarn emerges at a high rate ofspeed from the narrow tube 41 and expands upwardly through the conicalportion 43 and relaxes under substantially zero tension in the turbulentliquid which carries the relaxed yarn along in the heat relaxing chamber44.

Although reference has been made with respect to one specific means forcontrolling the infeed speed of the yarn, it will be appreciated thatvarious other ways may be provided for feeding the yarn. For example,parallel cylindrical rolls may be used instead of the conical rolls 23,but with provision for varying the speed relative to the output rollersfor control purposes.

Although the use of a dye chamber and a meter have been disclosed in thedescription of this invention, it will be appreciated that the use of adye is optional and in many cases plain hot water is the preferred yarnrelaxing medium. However, the apparatus and process of this inventionlend themselves admirably to the incorporation of dye, if desired.

It will be appreciated that the relative pressures P and P may readilybe controlled by simply adjusting the associated valves, and that anincrease of pressure differential causes a more rapid flow of fluid fromthe chamber 31 to the chamber 42. Further, it will be appreciated thatthe retention time of the relaxed yarn within the chamber 44 may readilybe controlled by simply varying the level of fluid in the chamber 44itself. Within certain limits, greater degrees of heat relaxation andbulkiness are obtained with longer periods of exposure of the relaxedyarn to the hot treating liquid. In FIG. this is done by varying theheight of the pipe which connects tank 54 to tank 71 or, for example,using a variable height weir between tanks 54 and 71.

Although a specific form of air lock has been described and shown in thedrawings, other forms of air locks or even no air lock at all may beutilized if the conservation of air or other gaseous medium should berelatively unimportant or of no importance in connection with aparticular installation. However, it is believed that the novel air lockdescribed and claimed herein possesses the special advantages of ease ofuse and efficiency in conservation of pressurized air.

If desired, the air within the chamber 64 may be heated, so that the wetrelaxed yarn is partially or even completely dried as it passes throughthe chamber 64.

Similarly, the air in chamber 22 may be heated, if yarn preheating isdesired.

The following examples illustrate the rather small amounts of air lossthat result from operation of the air locks according to the invention:

EXAMPLES l-4 1. Using 56 orifice plates, with a total pressuredifference between air chamber and the atmosphere of 21 p.s.i., the lossof air from the chamber was 2.23 cu. ft.

of air per minute.

2. With 3/32inch diameter holes, using 30 orifice plates, with a totalpressure differential of 21 p.s.i., the loss of air was 1.83 cu. ft. perminute.

3. With orifice plates and conditions above, the loss of air was l cu.ft. per minute.

4. With yarn present, and Vs holes, 56 orifice plates, 26 p.s.i.differential, the air loss was 2.53 cu. ft. per minute. Without yarn,3.36 cu. ft. per minute.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modificationsmay be made including the substitution of equivalents, reversal of partsand sequence of steps of the methods, and the use of certain featuresindependently of the use of others, all without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

The following is claimed:

1. In an apparatus for continuously bulking a texturized multifilamentyarn, the combination which comprises: means providing a gaseouspressurized inlet zone into which said yarn is conducted, said gaseousinlet zone having a gas outlet, for escape of gas from said gaseousinlet zone, said gas outlet defining an inlet for said yarn into saidinlet zone such that said yarn enters said inlet zone countercurrentlywith respect to the escaping gas, means providing a pressurized hotliquid zone in contact with said inlet zone and into which the yarn isconducted from said inlet zone, the pressure in said pressurized liquidzone being approximately equal to that in said gaseous inlet zone, saidpressurized liquid zone including a yarn-relaxing chamber wherein theyarn tension is relaxed, means for introducing the liquid into saidrelaxing chamber concurrently with the yarn whereby said yarn travels ina relaxed condition concurrently with said pressurized hot liquidthrough said relaxing chamber, and means for continuously withdrawingsaid yarn from said liquid zone after said relaxation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid zone furtherincludes an inlet chamber and a conduit extending from said inletchamber to said relaxing chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conduit is substantiallysmaller in cross section area than said inlet chamber or said relaxingchamber, and wherein means are provided for causing said liquid to flowturbulently in said conduit from said inlet chamber toward said relaxingchamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inlet chamber issubstantially smaller in cross section than said relaxing chamber.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means are provided forcausing hot pressurized liquid to flow continuously through said conduitin contact with said yarn, in a manner to influence said yarn formovement along with said liquid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means are provided forregulating the pressure in said inlet chamber and in said relaxingchamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for continuouslywithdrawing said yarn includes a gaseous pressurized outlet zone inpressure contact with said pressurized liquid zone, through which theheat relaxed yarn is conducted for collection.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein means are provided forregulating the gas pressure in said outlet zone.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein means are provided forregulating the difference of pressure between said gaseous inlet zoneand said gaseous outlet zone.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided forregulating the gas pressure in said inlet zone.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein automatic means are providedfor regulating the flow of said yarn into said pressurized liquid zonein response to the quantity of relaxed yarn accumulated in said yarnrelaxing chamber.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means includes a pairof conically shaped feed rolls, combined with yarn guide meansresponsive to said quantity of accumulated yarn arranged to shift saidyarn in the direction of the axes of said conically shaped feed rolls ina manner to vary the yarn infeed speed.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided forcontinuously supplying fresh quantities of said liquid to saidpressurized liquid zone, and for releasing excess quantities of saidliquid from said relaxing chamber.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein means are provided forintroducing a dye into said liquid.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said providing meansincludes a metering means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means are provided forcontrolling the temperature of said liquid.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of continuousbulking apparatuses for separately treating a plurality of separateyarns are arranged in parallel and adjacent to one another, and areconnected to a common source of said liquid.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said common connectionincludes pressure headers extending from a liquid source to all of saidpressurized liquid zones.

1. In an apparatus for continuously bulking a texturized multifilamentyarn, the combination which comprises: means providing a gaseouspressurized inlet zone into which said yarn is conducted, said gaseousinlet zone having a gas outlet, for escape of gas from said gaseousinlet zone, said gas outlet defining an inlet for said yarn into saidinlet zone such that said yarn enters said inlet zone countercurrentlywith respect to the escaping gas, means providing a pressurized hotliquid zone in contact with said inlet zone and into which the yarn isconducted from said inlet zone, the pressure in said pressurized liquidzone being approximately equal to that in said gaseous inlet zone, saidpressurized liquid zone including a yarnrelaxing chamber wherein theyarn tension is relaxed, means for introducing the liquid into saidrelaxing chamber concurrently with the yarn whereby said yarn travels ina relaxed condition concurrently with said pressurized hot liquidthrough said relaxing chamber, and means for continuously withdrawingsaid yarn from said liquid zone after said relaxation.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said liquid zone further includes an inletchamber and a conduit extending from said inlet chamber to said relaxingchamber.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conduit issubstantially smaller in cross section area than said inlet chamber orsaid relaxing chamber, and wherein means are provided for causing saidliquid to flow turbulently in said conduit from said inlet chambertoward said relaxing chamber.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, whereinsaid inlet chamber is substantially smaller in cross section than saidrelaxing chamber.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means areprovided for causing hot pressurized liquid to flow continuously throughsaid conduit in contact with said yarn, in a manner to influence saidyarn for movement along with said liquid.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein means are provided for regulating the pressure in saidinlet chamber and in said relaxing chamber.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said means for continuously withdrawing said yarnincludes a gaseous pressurized outlet zone in pressure contact with saidpressurized liquid zone, through which the heat relaxed yarn isconducted for collection.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 whereinmeans are provided for regulating the gas pressure in said outlet zone.9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein means are provided forregulating the difference of pressure between said gaseous inlet zoneand said gaseous outlet zone.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinmeans are provided for regulating the gas pressure in said inlet zone.11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein automatic means are providedfor regulating the flow of said yarn into said pressurized liquid zonein response to the quantity of relaxed yarn accumulated in said yarnrelaxing chamber.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said meansincludes a pair of conically shaped feed rolls, combined with yarn guidemeans responsive to said quantity of accumulated yarn arranged to shiftsaid yarn in the direction of the axes of said conically shaped feedrolls in a manner to vary the yarn infeed speed.
 13. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein means are provided for continuously supplying freshquantities of said liquid to said pressurized liquid zone, and forreleasing excess quantities of said liquid from said relaxing chamber.14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein means are provided forintroducing a dye into said liquid.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14wherein said providing means includes a metering means.
 16. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein means are provided for controlling thetemperature of said liquid.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid liquid is water.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein aplurality of continuous bulking apparatuses for separately treating aplurality of separate yarns are arranged in parallel and adjacent to oneanother, and are connected to a common source of said liquid. 19.Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said common connection includespressure headers extending from a liquid source to all of saidpressurized liquid zones.